Thermal motor



- 4 Sheets Sheet 1. G. L WASHBURN.

Thermal Motor.

No. 48,607. Patented July 4, 1865.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. I. WASHBURN.

y Thermal Motor.

Patented July 4, 1865.

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Thermal Motor.

Patented July 4 1865.

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GEORGE I. VASHBURN, OF VRCES'IER, MASSACHUSETTS.

THERMAL MOTOR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,607, dated July 4, 1865. e

To all whom it mag/concem:

Be it known that I, GEORGE I. WAsnBURN, ofthe city and countyof Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and improved thermal motor, or method of utilizing the expansive. or contractile force developed in metals, iluids, &c.,by the application of heat, natural or artiticial, also oi' accumulating the eliect of said expansion in such a manner that it may be used at will; and I do hereby declare thet'ollowing to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in whichvFigure l represents a side elevation ot' what may beconsidered the type of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, and Fig. 3 is a top view. Y

Similar'letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The fundamental feature of my invention consists in utilizing the two forms o f heat: lirst, the costless form-tor instance, natural variations of temperature occurring from day to day, or otherwise accidental variations of heat, suchas the varying temperature of a room in winter 5 secondly, the artificial heat,

by which I mea-n heat artiticially generated or artificially applied. For this purpose'I make use ofthe contractionand expansion of materials occasioned bythe variation of their temperature, and as 1n many cases this range ot contraction and expansion is very minute, but ofimmense power, an important feat-ure of my inventionis the way in which I multiply the motion, with a corresponding division of its force, and I either store the resulting force of this irregular variation by asuitabledevicesuch as causing it to wind a mainspring-or use it directly.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe it.

K represents a vertical and rigid standard, through slots in which two levers, L L', vil brate vertically. These levers are connected nearther ends by rods M M. Were these rodsfjournaledto the levers at points equidistantlfroni th" points of vibration of the levers they would not produce the specific effect desired in this connection; but by pivoting the rod M to the lever L at appoint more distant from the center of vibration of the lever than its corresponding rod on the other end of the lever a valuable effect is produced by theexpansion or contraction ot' the rods by heat, as it elevates the extended limb of the lever L.

I will endeavor to explain the rationale of operation.

Supposing that the four points ot' attachment of the rods tothe levers were equidis tant from the respective points of vibration of the levers, and supposing the upper lever to be vibrated by an arrangement on the point (x w) of attachment to the connecting-rods, (see Fig.

1,) the motion of each point would be equal in e a `given time and the centers of vibration rcmain equidistant. Now change one of these points ot' attachment (say to x') to a position farther from or nearer to the center ot' vibration ot' its lever, and the difference between `its motion and that of its fellow rod on the same lever (the motion ofthe other points being equal and not affecting the result) will cause the centers of vibration ofthe levers to i vers have an unequal arc to describe, of nee `cessity either advance or recede the centersot' vibration ot' the levers or vibrate the arm. In the diagram Fig. l the central standard, K, is supposed to be ot a non-expansive material, and the motion shown in red lines is what would result from the contraction of the rods M The upper'lever iselevated in the4 air and made to produce any desired effect-as, forinstance, turning the ratchet-wheel O and `winding up the springO througthe medium `of the connecting-rod L3.

A modification of my invention is exhibited in Figs. 4, 5, 6, said modification consisting in a peculiar construction of the standard and of the rods M M', by which the effect ofthe pre- Viously-dcscribed motor is augmented, and it bolted through the wood so firmly as to form a base for the contractile force. The fellow fork, embracing the other two faces ofthe rect-I angular bar of wood, is bolted by its extremities to the other end of the same bar. Thus within the given limit of length nearly double the expansive range is attained minus the slight amount of expansion ofthe wood. Gontrariwise, by making the central bar ot' metal and the embracing forks of wood and attaching them in the saine way to the central portion, the forks are pulled together by their ends and the general length diminished by the expansive power of heat. I use this method ofadding to the expansive or contractile power y ofmy rods or standards in such a way as to produce a greatly-augmented effect, as at Fig. et.

It will be seen that underneath all thejournals of the points of vibration of the levers and of attachment of the rods I place springs t0 keep the points from chattering. These springs are powerful beyond all the force that -I require to exert, and will not give unless in case of such extraordinary expansion or contraction of the p'arts as might threaten to rupture the material.

ln Fig. 7 I show a plan for producing a like effect by a bag or reservoir ot' liquid or air, which may be made to act in the same way as the combination of thewood and metal last spoken of, and this by beingconned in a sac,

cylinder, or other suitable way, the-return motion, or that which is permitted by the contraction of the contained air, being made by a spring or weight which yields before the additicnalexpansive force of heat, and that heilig removed restores the chamber to its original capacity,

I wish it distinctly understood that the introduction of the spring in any case is merelyV to balance the expansive force obtained by condensatiomso that the apparatus, with its chamber lof compressed air, may be in equilibrium when not subjected to variation by the y' application of heat, and the object of charging the chamber and then negativing its effects isl to obtain within a limited space the practical advantage of a larger body of air than is due to thecapacity ofthe vessel at ordinary pressure. Although this return force may be obtained by a weight ora metallic spring, yet it might, in the case of artificial application of heat, be desirable to make use of' a pneumatic spring, as shown in Fig. 7. Thediiferent parts may, however, be brought into more intimate relation in a single cylinder, as in Fig. 7', with its piston, in which, the air on each side being equally condensed, one body of air may be subjected to the additional expansion due to the increase of heat, and the other act as a pneumatic spring, the expansive powerbeingon one side of the pistou and the pneumatic spring on the other, one valuable feature in this arrangement being that when in a state of equilibrium, rest, or disusethe two volumes of air have no tendency to leak past the piston, which can only occur when their expansion is relatively different. Also, by altering the heat of the pneumatic spring we may modify its relative power, forming an adjustable spring.

It will also be perceived that the functions of the air on each side of the piston may be relatively changed at will, and by an alternate application of Ameans-be made to produce a reciprocating motion.

I wish to remark that it will. frequently be found desirable to use the expansion of a body of air or other analogous material, from the fact that in this case wev get the effect of the whole cubical expansion minus the slight amount of additional cubical capacity of the containing-chamber due to its expansion, while in the use of bars of metal, 85e., we only get the effect of the linear expansion; but, further, under some circumstancesthe bar might be the better mode, from its being more conveniently susceptible of high degrees of heat.

Iwill uowproceed to describe other methods of multiplying and dividing the expansive motion of the materials used. I exhibit several plans for doing this.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 represent, respectivelya side elevation, a plan, and an en d elevation of a combination of devices illustrating my device for multiplying the motion. Figs. l1, 12, 13, and 14 illustrate a modification ot' the devices showu in Figs. 8, 9, and l0.

In Figs. 8, 9, and l0, B B' represent two levers adapted to turn upon a pivot, B2. Upon the long arms of these levers may be mounted eight wheels or pulleys, A A' A2 A3 A4 A" AG A7, each lever being provided with a setor series of four. Formed in one piece with these pulleys are small concentric pulleys, a a', and y so on, the circumferences of the larger wheels being designed to serve as the long arms 0f levers and the smaller wheels as the short arms thereof. These multiplying-pulleys A a.

'A' a', Src., are `iournaled or pivoted upon shafts B3 B-i, which have their bearings in suitable frames. B4 B4 upon the upper ends of the levers rIhe wheels are connected together as follows; From the frame B4 on the lever B cX- tends a cord, wire, or chain, C, which is at` tached to the wheel a4 in such a manner that its point of action will be at the under side of the wheel a4. From the top of the wheel Ata,`

cord, C', extends to the under side of the wheel a; another, G2, from the bottom of wheel A to thebottom of wheel a5; another, C5, from the` top of wheel A5 toV the top ot wheel al; one, C4, from the bottom of wheel A to the bottom of wheel a5; one, C5, from top of wheel A6 to the top of wheel a2; y one, G5, from the bottom of wheel A? to the bottom ot' wheel a", a-nd one, G7, from top of wheel A7 to top of wheel a5. These several cords or wires are wound around their respective wheels a sutlcient number of times to prevent them from ruiming out when the wheels are rotated. From the wheel A5 a cord, `(la, may connect with the mechanism or device to which motion is to be imparted.

D represents a metallic rod, havingits ends securely keyed in lugs or `boxes Dl D', which are pivoted in the short arms of the leversB B', so that the latter may turn freely thereon when the` rod is lengthened or shortened.

' YThe connecting-cords ot' the multiplying wheels may be attached in a contrary manner from that illustrated in the drawings, so that when the centers B5 B3 are made to approach cach other motion will be communicated to the wheels. vWhen the rod D is diminished in length the motion thereby given theleversB B'` is com municated through the cord C to the small pulley a4, and thence to the entire series through the connecting-cords C' G2, Sac., the various parts moving in the direction indicated by the red arrows in Figs. l'and 2. Each double wheel or pulley, in receiving and transmitting` the motion from the levers B B', multiplies it in a ratio commensurate with the dili'erence between the radius ot' the-large and small wheel (as A and a) composing said double wheel.

Now,"inaddition to this, the first motion (which is the moving from or toward each other ofthe two centers B3 B5) is not only multiplied once byall the wheels, as' before, but while the iucrease of the distance between A4 a4 and A a, or the centers ot' motion, is multiplied by all the wheels, the increase ot' distance between the centers of wheels A and A5 is multiplied by the wheels AG t5 A2 a2 A7 a7 A3 a5, and the increase of distance between thecenters of A6 a5 and A2 a2 is multiplied by the wheels A7 al and A3 a3, the increase of distance between whose centers is added to the motion already produced in obtaining the motion given at the circumference of A5. In order to obtain an equal result from an equal first motion in a system of multiplyingwheels whose centers should not change the relative'positions, it would be requisite to employ, lirst,A a setot eight double wheels of the same proportions as those above described 5 secondly, a set of six wheels turning` with a velocity equal to that ot' the wheels A a A2 a2 A3 a? A5 a5A5 a5 A7 a', thirdly, a set of four wheels, and, fourthly, a set of two wheels. The resulting motion from thesefour different sets would, if added to each other, equal that produced by me in the manner explained.

It is apparent that the connection between the wheels may be made by means of cogs and in many other different ways from that represented.

By modifying the arrangement of the cords C C', Snc., the wheels may be rotated when moving either from orto ward each other or in alternate opposite directions, and in either case the motion maybe multiplied the same as in the arrangement described.

In the modification ot' my invention illlustrated in Figs. ll, 12,13, and 14, and which I will now proceed to describe, the levers B B are shaped somewhat like a boot, `from which likeness I` will denominate the points at which are attached metallic rods E E the toe and the heel77 ot each lever, respectively. The rods E E serve to connect the levers B B' at one end, and impart motion thereto by expansion or contraction in like manner with the rod D above described. One end ofthe rod E is rmly secured in a lng, F, which is pivoted in the toe of the lever B,and the other end is secured in a lug, F', which is pivoted in the toe of the lever B. The rod E' is in the same manner connected to the respective heels of the levers B B by pvoted lugs F2 F5.

At the extremities of the long arms of the levers B B are attached levers G G by mcan's ot' pivots P P, the short endsof which levers are connected by wires H H to either the long ends of the levers B B, as illustrated, or to each other. The long arms of the levers G G carry pivots G G', to which areV secured levers l I, the short ends of which latter are connected by wires or cords J J attached to wheels I l', which may be fastened to the levers in concentric position with the pivots G G', and which may serve as additional means for multiplying themotion from the levers. The long arms ot' the leversl I may carry other similar levers, and thus the number can be increased to any desired extent. i

VIt will be seen that by increasing the distance between the heels of the two levers B B' the long arms thereof, with the pivots P P, will move toward each other, the Vlevers rotating around a point located in the axis ofthe rod E and in the toe of each lever, respectively. Also, that by increasing the distance between the toes of the levers the long arms will move toward each in the same manner, and that each of the levers rotates around a point in its heel and in the axis of the rod B. New, if the two rods A B become simultaneously lengthened to the same degree, the long arms of the levers will be made to move toward each other, the levers B B both rotating around the same point, which is located (vertically) half-way between the axis of the rods E E and (horizontally measuring) half-way between the toes and heels of the levers, as designated by the converging red lines in Fig. 4.

Fig. 11u clearly illustrates the operation of the above-described combination of multiplying-levers, the red arrows indicating the direc- 1 tion in which the various parts move.

The rods D E E may be either solid or tubular.

The substance whose expansive motion is made use ot'may be heated bynumerous means, among which may be mentioned the following: iirst, by concentrating the rays otthe sun; second, by combustion of fuel; third, by the injection of steannhot air, gases, or hot liquids,` fourth, by electric or galvanic action; fth, by

chemical action. lt' the connecting-wires-of rods be stift' enough, a constant reciprocating movement of the levers could be obtained 4by alternately heating and cooling the rodsrllhe connectiug'wires'or rods C C' and H J may, if desired, -be made'ot' vthe same expanding material as the rods, so as to adapt them to notonly transmit the power from lever to lever, but also act as motors themselves, with an effect governed by their location in the app paratus.

The above invention may Vloe employed ygenerally as a motor, either when the expansive and contracting motion ot' the material be'p'reviously stored or not, to run sewing-machines, time-keepers, music-boxes, generate a current of air through themedium of a blower. As employed in connection with the mainspring of a watch, it is adapted to wind up the samel force derived from variations of temperature in tubes or bars of metal, so as to produce a regularly recurrent or continuous motion, the

said force being applied through theintervention of a mainspringor resulting from the regularlyrecurrent artcial application of heat to said bar or tube.

2. Utilizing the expansive force resulting from the increase of temperature of' a confined body-of'air to compress a spring from which a regularly recurring or continuous motion is obtained.

3. Utilizing the expansive force resulting from the artificially-produced increase of temperature of a confined body of air which is subjected to the variations of temperature without the laccession of fresh air,excepting suficientto supplythe waste.

4. The double yfork-shaped bars MM K, or their equivalent, embracing a central Abar, N', of a different expansive power, to 2which they are mutually attached at or neartheir extremities, by which thel expansive power of a-single rod may be almost doubled within a given length, and by whicl1,according to the relative expansibility ot' the tongs and theem'braced portion, it may be made to contract or to expandlongitudinally by increase oftcm perature.

5. The levers 'B B', multiplying wheels or pulleys -A a A a', &c., and expansible rod D, the whole being arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

6. A series of m ultiplying-levers,G I, operating,in connection with the leversvB 'B' and expansible rods E', in any manner substantially as described. I p

7. The connecting wires or cords() C, &c.,

H J, formed ot' metal or other material, land employed in combination with the'multiplying wheels and levers, substantially as and for the purposes explained.

The-above specification of inyimproved thermal motor signed this 29th day of April, 1864.

GEO. I. WASH'BURN. Witnesses:

CHARLES D. SMITH, vOc'rAvIUs KNIGHT. 

